Somchai Wongsawat

Somchai Wongsawat (31 August 1947-) was Prime Minister of Thailand from 8 September to 2 December 2008, succeeding Samak Sundaravej and preceding Chavarat Charnvirakul.

Biography
Somchai Wongsawat was born in Chawang, Thailand in 1947, and he married the sister of Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra, Yaowapha Shinawatra. He was a veteran of the judicial and civil services since the 1970s, and he retired in 2006 after reaching pensionable age. In 2007, he became deputy leader of the People's Power Party, and he became Prime Minister after Samak Sundaravej was removed from power. Somchai had to deal with continued political crisis in 2008 as well as the Great Recession, and his party was banned for vote-buying, leading to Chavarat Charnvirakul succeeding him as Prime Minister in December.